Improvement in tables and head-rests for invalids



MARY FITCH.

l'mproven-e'nt in-TabIe--and Head Rests lfor lnvaldsj Pafented March5,1372,

MARY FITCH, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

IMPROVEMENT IN TABLES AND'HEAD-RESTS FOR INVALIDS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent N o. 124,260, dated March5, 1872 5 antedated February 24, 1872.

SPECIFICATION.

To alt whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, MARY FIToiI, of Wash ington, in the county ofWashington and District of Columbia, have invented a new and usefulTable andvHead-Rest for Invalids; and I do hereby declare that thefollowing is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawing forming a part of thisspecification.

Figure l is a front elevation. Fig. 2 is a transverse vertical sectiontaken in the line x x of Fig. 1; and Fig. 3 is a plan view of thehead-rest and its accompanying parts.

A represents the frame of the table and its legs, which may be of theordinary construction 5 in the drawing, however, the frame isrepresented as formed of one side and two end pieces, and four legs.Over this frame is placed the top B, which is not fastened thereto. Onthe inside of the ends of the table are two shafts, a, their bearingsbeing near the upper ends ofthe legs. On the inner ends of each oftheshafts are bevel-wheels b. On the inside of the rear side piece of thetable is a shaft, c, with bearings d d. On the ends of this shaft arebevelwheels e e, which mesh into the bevel-wheels b on the shafts a. Tothe under side of the top B are secured four vertical racks, j', whichmesh into pinions g on the shafts c. The racks slide in the anglesformed when the end pieces of z the frame of the table are joinedtogether. On the outer end of each of the shafts a are hand-wheels ILzf, by means of which they are turned. In the top B of the table is ahole, through which the vertical rack C'works. On each side of the. topB are guides, which keep the rack vertical. In the upper end of thisrack is an eye, in which a rod, z', is inserted. In front of this rod isthe head-rest D, which is connected to the rod t' by a ballandsocketjoint, which enables it to be turned in. any desired position'. The rodz' slides in the eye of the rack C, and is held in any desired positionby means of a thumb-screw, j. On the under side of the top B and infront of the rack C, is a shaft, k, with suitable bearings which hold itin its position. On this shaft is a pinion, l,

which meshes into the rack C, and on its outer or front end is ahand-wheel, m.

Its operation is as follows: The top B is adjusted t-o any positiondesired by turning the hand-wheels lijk, which cause the shafts a a andtheir pinions and bevel-wheels to revolve, thereby raising' or loweringthe racks j' with the top B and the head-rest. The height of thehead-rest C is adjusted by turning the hand-wheel m. the shaft c areused to insure keeping the top B in a horizontal position.

The object of this invention is to furnish a device by which personsaicted with heart disease, asthma, or any affection of the respiratoryorgans, may obtain rest and sleep.

It is well known that those who are so unfortunate as to be the victimsof any of the diseases above named, are unable to obtain rest or sleepin a recumbent position, and that, for a term of days, and even weeks7and months7 duration, they are often obliged to sit upright, obtainingno rest or sleep except by placing a chair or some other article offurniture in front of them upon which to support the arms and head. Thebody is so uncomfortable in this attitude that no refreshing orcomfortable rest can be obtained, and the weariness and exhaustionbecome almost as great a source of torture. as the disease itself. Thedevice herein described obviates these difficulties as far as it ispossible for them to be overcome, and enables the patient to repose inthe only position the disease will allowr him or her to occupy. Thepatient, seated in any description of chair, by drawing the ta-bletoward him, so as to accommodate the desired inclination of body,placing' the head in the rest and the arms upon the table, may, afterbecoming accustomed to it, enjoy hours of refreshing sleep. The top ofthe table is adjust-able to accommodate the desired position of thearms, and the head-rest is adjustable to give the most comfortableinclination to the head. By sitting in an easy chair, the back sustainedby the cushions, and drawing the table' forward, so that the legs takein the varms ofthe chair, the head is firmly supported,

while the body is in nearly an upright position, which is often the onlyone in which the The bevel-pinions b b e c and` sufferer can breathe;but the mechanism is so constructed as to accommodate any inclination ofthe body, While the perpendicular rest is set in a ball-and-socketjoint, so that the head mayT be changed to a side or front rest Withoutusingthe hands.

In addition to the comfort and convenience of position afforded by thisdevice, the invalid has the advantage of a free circulation of air. Thetop of the table may be cushioned, and the head-rest made of any desiredsize and materia-1, and padded.

What I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. Constructing a table for the purpose specified, the top of which isadjustable, as described. Y

2. The combination of the top, frame, and adjustable head-rest,substantially as and for the purposes shown and described.

V MARY FITCH. Witnesses:

E. R. BROWN, G. A. 0. SMITH.

